Monday, March 2, 2015

Balm

You know when you're absolutely freezing, and then you walk into a warm building? You know that feeling of being wrapped up in warmth, completely covered by it? It's the best feeling. Today I enter my campus building feeling particularly icy--both physically and emotionally.

I enter the building: warmth. I sit there in the stairwell and experience the balm of it, so soothing and comforting against the physical experience of cold. But what about my icy mood? My stress and guilt over things undone, personal weaknesses, selfish thoughts, and complaints? What about the ice cold me: the girl who doesn't want to be inconvenienced, who controls everything, and who battles all kinds of internal demons?

I remember Romans 8:1: "Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

No condemnation--not in the past, not now, not ever. I place my icy self in the warm embrace of this truth and let the balm soothe and heal. I'm set free from this law of sin and death. I melt by the warmth of this reality.

1 comment:

Anonymous
said...

I love how real you are! When I read this I didn't feel like I was the only grown-up with these issues/thoughts/etc: "But what about my icy mood? My stress and guilt over things undone, personal weaknesses, selfish thoughts, and complaints? What about the ice cold me: the girl who doesn't want to be inconvenienced, who controls everything, and who battles all kinds of internal demons?" Thank you!!

About Me

In my writing classes, we talk about writing with flair, but lately I've been interested in what it means to live with flair. Can I find a way to make every day impressive and meaningful? Just as a sentence turns into something beautiful with the right verb and punctuation, can I learn to revise my day and punctuate it with flair?

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More about me. . .

I'm a wife and mother of two who teaches college writing. I love writing novels, encouraging teachers, reflecting on spiritual principles in everyday life, drinking tea out of my little blue teapot, petting my cats, exercising, lighting candles, reading grammar books, watching movies and any television show with singing and dancing in it, entertaining, eating leftover Chinese food, and blogging. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.